Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-30
THE LATERAL CANAL.
4. r. Reynolds Disseminates HIS
Views On the Subject---The Moline
Water Power Co.'S. scheme.

4. r. Reynolds Disseminates His
Views on the subject---The Moline
Water Power Co.'S. scheme.
E. P Reynolds, Esq, of this city, has
ventilated his opinion as to the proper |
construction of the lateral canal to the |
people of Iowa. through the columns of |
the Davenport Democrat Gazette. He
says;
see by the papers in this vicinity that
the business men Of the tri-cIties are now
discussing lateral canal around the
rapids. This is good scheme for the
Moline Water Power company. as it ends
at the government draw. Then it is
switched on to the island. Where is
Rock Island and Davenport to be bene.
| fitted by this? The statement Is made
that 1t will cost so much to excavste the
bottom of Sylvan water that 1t is cheaper
to build on the island. New let US look
at the points as they are. There is no
trouble to dredge out the channel oppo>
site the Cable residence to the main riv,
er, then running east there is formation
of slate rock for distance of 1000 feet
thence to the government dam nothing
but sand and dirt. The cost of excsvst.
ing the 1900 feet. 100 fee. wide and six
fee: deep. would be about $3.50. 900. the
balance dredged out for say $50. 900. put
ting in draws In two bridges SAC, 900
This places you at the government dam
at cost of $270,0O0.
Then put q lock in the pool at the gov
eminent dam. Now what will it cost to
, dig canal through the rocks near the
government dam to the low lands Then,
when you get near the old site of the C..
r. l. & P. railway you will encounter
heavy rock cutting again. Then yor
t have to get through the railroad AND
Armstrong avenue; then have to con
struct lock to get into the river.
My opinion is the cost Of the loci
9 alone will excavate q channel from tn
, steamboat channel to the government
q dam. Now, on the other hand, why no
y continue the pool down Sylvan water t
the c., r. l. & P. bridge. and give Roc
: Island water power as well as Moline
Some will object on account of the waite
power canal or rscewsy-build viaduc
and let it run under-but this will NJ
Of suit the Moline Water Power compan
9 and their paid attorney. Our good Unc
in Sam has built the wall, dug out the chat
;, mel at the upper end of Moline, dug
!" race across Sylvan island for the Molir
he Water Power company why not do SOM
,g thing for Rock Island? Do our busine
A | men see itf
!, This is not the way to go to work fl
!" this locality. The way is to educate i
% river interest to see that their interest
he In having the river damned at the he,
n, of Rock Island Put good raft chute
!, the deepest water. put lock either
Benken's island or at the government ds
he in Sylvan water, back the water oy
he Moline, Duck creek and Campbell's chair
10. then under Sycamore chain and also Ro
,,a Island chain. Then your rapids are II
proved so that steamboats, and RATS C
w. go through as well as at the Des NOR
nd rapids canal. Then the Hennepin C
be built wherever the people see
What will be the resulti The people
Davenport will have an immense va
or power. the people Of Moline and Re-
Of Island will also have an immense pow
70, also the government. This will build
large manufacturing cities on both 81,
ue' of the river. These improvements '
rd- cost less by $1,000. 900 than the lats
for canal. The matter needs ventilation
nm. ELIsHU p REYNOLDS